The University of Tasmania’s College of Business and Economics and Launceston City Mission have made a formal commitment to work together on initiatives centred around the value of community, connections, and care for others.
This commitment includes initiatives like identifying research opportunities and projects, ongoing student placements and internships, collaborations to help solve community issues, and information and expertise sharing to improve outcomes for Tasmania.
“Through this commitment, we aim to strengthen an already excellent relationship with Launceston City Mission as we continue to support each other to make positive change from and for Tasmania”
“This agreement offers greater opportunities for our staff and students to learn and share valuable skills, provide academic insight, and support initiatives that focus on the power of community, of connection, and of caring for others,” Interim Executive Dean of the College of Business and Economics Stuart Crispin said.
For Launceston City Mission CEO Stephen Brown, this next stage in the relationship with the University of Tasmania provides a framework for both organisations to investigate the opportunities that exist for co-design and collaboration across a range of community and social enterprise services.
“It also provides a framework and intention to consider innovation in the application of research, knowledge and grass roots service delivery to address the perplexing problems that confront the people of Tasmania”.
“Everything that becomes great, started small, and we want to leverage off our existing collaborations to build a significant and enriching partnership for both organisations to benefit the people we serve,” Mr Brown said.
This partnership has already proven to be an invaluable opportunity for students to gain vital work experience and an appreciation for volunteering and community support.
“I love the experience so much. Not just because I know I am doing something for other people, but I also get to be involved. A lot of jobs would like someone with experience, so I am grateful that City Mission is willing to teach me and let me be a part of the finance team”
“I try to be as involved as possible with university, and the University of Tasmania has offered a lot of opportunities for students to get involved,” Bachelor of Business student and Launceston City Mission intern and volunteer Rowling Luo said.
The memorandum of understanding was signed on 18 August at the University of Tasmanian’s Inveresk Campus.